Girl says 'hell' in school, suspended (2nd Grader)

AP | 2/04/04 | DAN NEPHIN

[kattracks]

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A second-grader was suspended for a day for telling a classmate he would go to hell for saying, "I swear to God."

Brandy McKenith, 7, was suspended for swearing for saying the word "hell," but her family says she was referring to the biblical location of fire and brimstone.

She served the suspension Tuesday.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools' student code of conduct prohibits profanity, but doesn't provide a definition, spokeswoman Pat Crawford said. The school would not comment further.

Brandy's father, Wayne McKenith, said when he learned about the suspension, he thought perhaps his daughter had said something worse, so he called the teacher for details. He was told another student overheard his daughter say the word.

"I said, `Hell? She got suspended for that?'" McKenith said.

He said he asked the school to evaluate its profanity policy.

"`Hell' is like the least of the words in school today," McKenith said. "You go home and turn on the TV tonight and tell me how many times you hear the word 'hell.' And I mean network TV, not even cable."

Without a clear definition, the district could run into problems enforcing the policy, said Witold Walczak, legal director of the Greater Pittsburgh chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

"The school's policy says 'no profanity' and that's not further defined," Walczak said. "How should this little girl know that `hell' is not allowed?"

"It's questionable whether `hell' is even a profanity, and it certainly isn't in the way that she used it," he added.

McKenith, a suburban Pittsburgh police detective, said family members aren't "religious fanatics," but there's a healthy respect for the Lord, so he accepts her daughter's explanation.

"She's under the assumption that good people go to heaven and ... bad people go to hell," he said Wednesday.

[weegee]

I don't know about the schools but there was a man in Washington DC that was repremanded for using the word "niggardly"

[California74]

See Leviticus 19:12, Matthew 5:34.

[newgeezer]

He also might want to talk to his daughter about judging people.

Why? Is judging people forbidden somewhere?

[azhenfud]

We had a teacher in NC who was recently reprimanded for that...

http://www.adversity.net/special/niggardly_again.htm

[dmz]

I don't recall the part of the 10 commandments in which it is stated that if a seven y/o kid takes the Lord's name in vain, then that child is condemned to hell.

Can you enlighten me. It appears to be missing from my Bible.

[vetvetdoug]

I almost choked on my dinner when my five year old daughter asked me if F@@k Off was a dirty word. She heard it on a movie. Nothing surprises me anymore....almost.

[eastforker]

Then your church is not organized religion, it is , rather a social gathering of souls with the same mind set. Organized religion is much like the Lutherans, Baptist, Catholics, etc. They organize, have schools that teach their particular sect and don't dare deviate unless someone higher up says it is ok. Much like the Taliban or the Shiite muslims. Granted, the Christian organized religion isn't hateful like some other religions are, but that has only been in the last 175 years, does anyone remember the inquisition?It was only in 1834 that the Vatican officialy rejected torture to convert heterics.

[weegee]

There are many children who don't live to the age of 18. Should they be denied a religious experience?

In many Christian faiths children are baptized but then later they make their own commitment when they are older.

Let's just let the state raise our children in a secular environment and give them back to parents when the kids reach age 18. Of course the same State has those who want to indoctrinate them in the ways of socialism and respect for same sex sexual attraction. No thanks.

America has freedom of religion. If you don't appreciate that freedom perhaps you should finds a new home.

[been called a cynic]

judge not lest ye be judged

[T.Smith]

My bible reading has been in Proverbs lately. I'm finding that there is so much there that is useful, even to a person who does not believe in God. 22:6 is a good example.

Other verses that speak to me are 16:9 and 17:1. Even an atheist ought to be able to read Proverbs and find some truth. The sad thing is that most people who are seeking a spiritual outlet would gladly read the Tao, but would not consider picking up the bible. I'll bet that if you put Proverbs into a Tao dust jacket many could not tell the difference. Truth is truth, but too many people refuse to profit from it because they are afraid to believe in God.

I'm done with my rant now.

[ErnBatavia]

It's a safe bet that this particular skool won't be having Andrew Dice Clay for any Assemblies in the near future...

[Happy2BMe]

"What the hell is this country coming to?"

This country is going to hell in a hand basket.

[weegee]

Swearing an oath to God may not be taking the Lord's name in vain (unless the person being sworn in to testify is lying and knowing he will lie). Of course the 10 commandments also prohibit bearing false witness against thy neighbor.

Then again, we all heard throughout the 1990s that no one is prosecuted for perjury anymore...

[been called a cynic]

i'm baptist, and i understand that, as a group, baptists enjoy their fire and brimstone. i cannot imagine, however, any leader in my church telling my six-year old she'll perish in fire everlasting for saying "swear to God."

[kegler4]

"Why? Is judging people forbidden somewhere?"

Seems to me it can be found in the Bible in more than one place. And exactly how does a 7-year-old girl know that God has decided this other 7-year-old is going to hell? That's what I'm talking about.

[eastforker]

It is not that they are afraid to believe in God, they are scared to death of the messengers.

[T.Smith]

You might be sorry that you opened the "judge not, let ye be judged" can of worms. You shouldn't quote that verse unless you can quote the 3-4 verses immediately preceding and following it. I believe it is in Matthew, you might look it up.

The shorthand response to your post should be, "You keep using that quote. I do not think it means what you think it means." (apologies to Inigo Montoya).

[California74]

The righteous are allowed into heaven. Swearing to God (using the Lord's Name in Vain) is not righteous. No one is righteous, not even one, which is why we need Jesus. So, as long as one believes and follows Jesus, one gets into heaven.

So no, no one is automatically condemned to hell. I think blasphemy against the holy spirit is the only way one could be automatically condemned to hell, but don't hold me to it. I think it's ultimately God's decision.

Still, the 7 year old should not be suspended. I think the punishment was way too extreme here.

[weegee]

All sins are equal in the eye of the Lord.

The Good News for us is that God shows us mercy and doesn't give us the punishment we deserve. He also shows us grace and gives us love that we feel we don't deserve.

A repentant sinner can ask for God's forgiveness.